High-Drive Dogs and Pain: When ‘Busy’ Means ‘Hurting’

When Your Dog Has No Off-Switch – On Pain Behaviour in High-Energy Dogs

Some dogs lie down when they’re in pain.

Others withdraw.

And then… you have dogs like Iris.

My assistance dog Iris is one of those dogs with an insanely high drive. She’s smart, sensitive, eager to learn and work — and she has one big drawback: she has no brake.

If it were up to her, she’d always keep going. And further. And just a little further still.

Until her body literally says: “Not anymore.”

But even then, she doesn’t stop.

And that makes recognising pain in her complicated — but so important.

Pain in an energetic dog looks different

You’d expect a dog in pain to lie down.

But with Iris, the opposite happens.

She becomes more active. Restless. Always searching for input. She can’t settle. Pulls on the leash. Paces around the house like a bundle of nerves. Chews on the spot that hurts — or avoids anything related to relaxation.

She literally becomes neurotic from the pain.

And you know what? That’s not a personality trait.

That’s a physical signal. Her body is in distress. And if I don’t intervene, she’ll just keep going. Because that off-switch? She doesn’t have one.

Scientifically supported:

Behavioural changes due to pain are often misinterpreted as “naughty” or “disturbed” behaviour. Research into chronic pain in dogs shows that behavioural domains like rest, focus, sleep and social interaction are significantly affected by pain — even when physical signs are minimal[^1][^2].

Iris’s paw injury – far from “just a little thing”

At the moment, Iris is dealing with an injury in her right front paw — likely involving a toe or tendon structure that has become irritated.

Visibly, the injury is not spectacular: no major swelling, she’s still walking reasonably well, she even still wants to play.

But her behaviour says it all:

• She doesn’t settle

• She won’t sleep without pain medication

• She keeps seeking stimuli, as if she’s trying to escape herself

• She ignores limits, pushes through, overheats

• She won’t accept massage or any kind of relaxation

• And she wants — despite everything — to keep working

And no, that’s not admirable. It’s concerning.

Because dogs who always keep going are also the ones who break themselves down the fastest.

In studies on so-called “maladaptive pain,” researchers found that some dogs actually increase activity when in pain — because their nervous system becomes dysregulated and behaviour becomes an outlet for discomfort[^3].

I am her off-switch

I had to teach Iris to sleep as a puppy. Literally.

She never slept on her own. Ever. And that hasn’t changed.

So I am her off-switch. And I have been since day one.

• I decide when enough is enough

• I force her to rest when her body needs it

• I give pain relief when I see she can’t cope anymore

• I choose a quiet spot outside if the waiting room is too overwhelming

• And I don’t let her “wait inside” if that’s going to push her over the edge

Because if I don’t do it — no one else will.

What you need to know about high-drive dogs and pain

If you have a dog that:

• doesn’t lie down when in pain, but becomes more active

• won’t rest without help

• always wants to work, even with an injury

• loses connection and keeps “searching”

• or becomes restless in body and mind, even at night…

Then you might not be looking at a behavioural problem — but at a dog in pain.

Behaviour is increasingly recognised in scientific literature as a valuable indicator of pain in dogs — especially when that behaviour improves after administering pain relief[^4].

In closing

I see Iris.

I see how she struggles.

And I also see that the world often isn’t built for dogs like her — who don’t show pain with sad eyes, but with restlessness, intensity and overdrive.

But I choose to take her signals seriously.

Even if that means waiting outside.

Even if I have to say for the third time: “She can’t do this right now.”

Even if people think I’m exaggerating.

Because Iris exaggerates too. Always.

But in the wrong direction.

And that makes it my job to slow her down.

To be her off-switch.

For her body. And for her future as an assistance dog.

For those who recognise this:

You’re not alone.

And you’re doing it right — especially when you set boundaries that others don’t understand.

Because caring for an assistance dog isn’t just about training, working or guiding.

It’s also about knowing when to stop.

For their wellbeing.

And because they will never stop themselves. Not ever.

References:

[^1]: Malkani, N. M., et al. (2024). How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation using the Canine Brief Pain Inventory and Canine Behavioral Assessment. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

[^2]: Mills, D. S., McPeake, K. J., & Coutts, A. (2023). Pain and paraesthesia as hidden contributors to behavioural problems in dogs. University of Lincoln.

[^3]: Guérin, L. et al. (2025). Detection of maladaptive pain in dogs referred for behavioural evaluation. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

[^4]: Plunkett, S. J., et al. (2023). Behavioural changes in response to analgesia in companion animals. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour.